Assistance device

ABSTRACT

An assistance device may provide a user with an identifier of an access point which is to be set in a wireless device. The assistance device may extract, from network information related to a network and stored in the assistance device, an IP address of an assignment server which had assigned an IP address to the assistance device. The assistance device may obtain from the access point, by utilizing the extracted IP address of the assignment server, information including, the identifier of the access point, so as to display the information including the identifier of the access point on a display unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2010-193349, filed on Aug. 31, 2010, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present specification discloses an assistance device for providing:a user with an identifier of an access point which is to be set in awireless device.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

In order to have a wireless device (e.g., a printer) participate in awireless network including an access point, a user normally setswireless setting information including an SSID (Service Set IDentifier)of the access point to the wireless device. When such wireless settingis performed, the wireless device normally displays a list includingSSIDs of one or more access points existing around the wireless deviceitself. By selecting one SSID from the list, the user can set the SSIDto the wireless device.

SUMMARY

For example, when wireless setting is performed, in a case where two ormore access points exist around the wireless device, the wireless devicenormally displays a list including two or more SSIDs. In this case, auser having limited knowledge of wireless communication is unable todetermine which SSID should be selected from the two or more SSIDs.

The present specification provides a technique that enables a user toeasily set, to a wireless device, an identifier of an access point whichis to be set in the wireless device.

The present specification discloses an assistance device for providing auser with an identifier of an access point which is to be set in awireless device. The assistance device may comprise, an extracting unitand a display controlling unit. The extracting unit may be configured toextract, from network information related to a network and stored in theassistance device, an IP address of an assignment server which hadassigned an IP address to the assistance device. The display controllingunit may be configured to obtain from the access point, by utilizing theextracted IP address of the assignment server, information including theidentifier of the access point, so as to display the informationincluding the identifier of the access point on a display unit.

Moreover, a control method, a computer program, and a computer readabledevice storing, the computer program for realizing the assistance devicedescribed above are also novel and useful. Furthermore, a systemcomprising two or more devices among the assistance device describedabove, an assignment server, and an access point is also novel anduseful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows, a flow chart of a first assistance process executed by aPC;

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a second assistance process executed by aPC; and

FIG. 4 shows, for each case, which step of the first and secondassistance processes wireless setting information is displayed in.

EMBODIMENT

(System Configuration of Case A)

The technique according to the present embodiment is applicable tosystems of both a case A and a case B shown in FIG. 1. First, aconfiguration of a system of the case A will be described. The system ofthe case A may, e.g., constitute a home LAN. The system of the case Acomprises an access point (hereinafter referred to as an “AP”) 4, aprinter 10, and a PC 20.

(Configuration of AP 4)

The AP 4 is connected to the Internet 2. The AP 4 functions as a relaypoint (in other words, an AP) for wireless communication, and furtherhas a NAT (Network Address Translation) function, a router function, anda DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) function. The NAT functionis a function for executing address translation between an IP addressused on the Internet 2 (in other words, a global IP address) and an IPaddress used in a LAN that includes the AP 4 (in other words, a local IPaddress). The router function includes a filtering function and arouting, function. The filtering function is a function for allowingpassage of a packet in which a predetermined IP address (e.g., an IPaddress within a range of IP addresses including a predetermined networkaddress) is designated as destination and not allowing passage of apacket in which an IP address other than the predetermined IP address isdesignated as destination. The routing function is a function forhanding over a packet to a next router (or a specific devicecorresponding to an IP address of a destination designated in thepacket) so that the packet is sent to the specific device along anoptimal route. The DHCP function is a function for assigning an IPaddress to a device (e.g., the PC 20) connected to a LAN including theAP 4.

The AP 4 further has a web server function. The web server function ofthe AP 4 is a function for sending to an external device, in response toa request from a web browser of the external device (e.g., the PC 20),data representing a web page including wireless setting information(sometimes also referred to as a “wireless profile”) currently beingused in the AP 4. In the present embodiment, wireless settinginformation in a web page includes an SSID of the AP 4, anauthentication method (WPA, WPA2, or the like), an encryption scheme(AES, TKIP, or the like), and an encryption key (in other words, apassword).

(Configuration of Printer 10)

The printer 10 executes printing according to data sent from an externaldevice (e.g., the PC 20). The printer 10 is not yet connected to the LANincluding the AP 4, and is about to be connected to the LAN. In thepresent embodiment, the printer 10 is to be connected to the LAN by awireless connection. In other words, the printer 10 is to participate ina wireless network including the AP 4. In order to have the printer 10participate in the wireless network, the user must set wireless settinginformation currently used in the AP 4 to the printer 10. Hereinafter,setting (in other words, storing) the wireless setting information tothe printer 10 will be referred to as “wireless setting”.

(Wireless Setting Modes of Printer 10)

Methods for the user to perform the wireless setting on the printer 10include a so-called automatic wireless setting mode (sometimes alsoreferred to as a “easy wireless setting mode”) and a manual wirelesssetting mode. In the automatic wireless setting mode, e.g., when theuser operates a button provided on the AP 4 or inputs a PIN code intothe AP 4, the AP 4 sends the wireless setting information currentlybeing used in the AP 4 (e.g., an SSID of the AP 4, and an authenticationmethod, an encryption method and an encryption key currently being usedin the AP 4) to the printer 10. The printer 10 sets the wireless settinginformation acquired from the AP 4 as wireless setting information ofthe printer 10 itself. As a result, the printer 10 can participate inthe wireless network including the AP 4. In other words, the printer 10can communicate with other devices via the AP 4 by utilizing thewireless setting information: that has been set in the printer 10itself.

On the other hand, in the manual wireless setting mode, the printer 10first searches for APs existing around the printer 10, and causes a listincluding SSIDs of the APs that have been found to be displayed on adisplay unit (not shown) of the printer 10. The user operates anoperation unit (not shown) of the printer 10 to select one SSID (theSSID of the AP 4 in this embodiment) from the list. Furthermore, in themanual wireless setting mode, the printer 10 normally causes a list,including a plurality of combinations of authentication methods andencryption methods on the display unit of the printer 10. The userselects one combination of an authentication method and an encryptionmethod from the list. Moreover, in the manual wireless setting mode, theuser normally inputs the encryption key currently being used in the AP 4into the printer 10. The printer 10 sets the wireless settinginformation selected or inputted by the user as wireless settinginformation of the printer 10 itself. As a result, the printer 10 canparticipate in the wireless network including the AP 4.

As described above, in the manual wireless setting mode, the printer 10searches for the APs existing around the printer 10. For example, whenthe AP 4 constitutes a LAN in a specific home, the printer 10 maypossibly find, in addition to the AP 4, an AP existing in an other homein a vicinity of the specific home. In this case, the printer 10displays two or more SSIDs including the SSID of the AP 4 existing inthe specific home and an SSID of the AP existing in the other home.Although the user must appropriately select the SSID of the AP 4 from,the two or more SSIDs displayed on the printer 10, if the user has onlylimited knowledge of wireless communication, the user may find itdifficult to determine which SSID should be selected. In particular, ina case where construction of a wireless network including the AP 4 hadbeen commissioned to a professional contractor, it is likely that theuser is not aware of (or has forgotten) the SSID of the AP 4 because thecontractor may decide the SSID of the AP 4. In the present embodiment,the PC 20 described below is adopted in order to display information forassisting the user when the wireless setting of the printer 10 is to beperformed in the manual wireless setting mode.

(Configuration of PC 20)

The PC 20 comprises a display unit 22, an operation unit 24, a wirelessinterface 26, a wired interface 28, and a controlling unit 40. Therespective units 22 to 28 and 40 are connected to a bus line 30. Thedisplay unit 22 is a display for displaying various types ofinformation. The operation unit 24 comprises a keyboard and a mouse. Byoperating the operation unit 24, a user of the PC 20 can input variousinformation into the PC 20. The wireless interface 26 is an interfacefor wireless communication. The wired interface 28 is an interface forwired communication to which a LAN cable or the like is connected. Inthe present embodiment, the PC 20 is connected to the wireless networkincluding the AP 4 by the wireless connection. In other words, thewireless setting information currently being used in the AP 4 is set tothe PC 20, and the PC 20 is capable of communicating with other devices(e.g., devices on the Internet 2) via the AP 4.

The controlling unit 40 comprises a CPU 42 and a memory 44 such as aROM, a RAM, or the like. The CPU 42 executes various processes accordingto programs 46 and 48 stored in the memory 44. Respective functions ofan: extracting unit 60 and a display controlling unit 70 are realizeddue to the CPU 42 executing processes according to the programs 46 and48. Moreover, the extracting unit 60 comprises a first determinationunit 62 and the display controlling, unit 70 comprises a seconddetermination unit 72.

The memory 44 stores the browser program 46, the support program 48, andnetwork information 50. The browser program 46 is a program foracquiring a web page by communicating with a web server and causing theweb page to be displayed on the display unit 22. The browser program 46is a known program that is installed in the PC 20 from, e.g., a medium.The support program 48 is a program for executing first and secondassistance processes, to be described later. The support program 48 isinstalled into the PC 20 from a medium provided by a vendor ormanufacturer of the printer 10 (a medium packaged together with theprinter 10 upon shipment of the printer 10). However, the supportprogram 48 may be installed into the PC 20 via the Internet from aserver provided by the vendor or manufacturer of the printer 10.

(Content of Network Information 50)

The network information 50 is information related to a network to whichthe PC 20 is connected (the wireless network including the AP 4 in thisembodiment). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the network information 50includes an IP address of the PC 20, information (hereinafter referredto as “DHCP information”) indicating whether or not the IP address ofthe PC 20 is an IP address assigned by a DHCP server, and an IP addressof a DHCP server that had assigned the IP address to the PC 20.

The user of the PC 20 can select whether or not a DHCP server is to beused by operating the operation unit 24. When using the DHCP server hasbeen selected, “Enabled” is stored in, the memory 44 as “DHCPinformation”. In addition, when not using the DHCP server has beenselected, “Disabled” is stored in the memory 44 as “DHCP information”.

When the “DHCP information” included in the network information 50indicates “Enabled”, the DHCP server (in other words, the AP 4) assignsan IP address to the PC 20 at a predetermined timing (refer to the caseA shown in FIG. 4). In doing so, the IP address assigned to the PC 20 bythe DHCP server is stored in the memory 44 as the “IP address of the PC20” included in the network information 50. Furthermore, when the IPaddress is assigned to the PC 20 by the DHCP server, an IP address ofthe DHCP server (in other words, the IP address of the AP 4) is sentfrom the DHCP server to the PC 20. In doing so, the IP address of theDHCP server is stored in the memory 44 as the “IP address of the DHCPserver” included in the network information 50.

On the other hand, when the “DHCP information” included in the networkinformation 50 indicates “Disabled”, the DHCP server does not assign anIP address to the PC 20. Normally, the user of the PC 20 operates theoperation unit 24 to input, into the PC 20, an IP address (in otherwords, a fixed (static) IP address) that should be set as the IP addressof the PC 20. In doing so, the IP address input to the PC 20 by the useris stored in the memory 44 as the “IP address of the PC 20” included inthe network information 50. Moreover, in this case, the IP address ofthe DHCP server is not included in the network information 50.

(System Configuration of Case B)

Similar to the system of the case A, the system of the case B may, e.g.,constitute a home LAN. The system of the case B comprises a router 6, anAP 8, a printer 10, and a PC 20. The router 6 is connected to theInternet 2 and also to the AP 8 by a wired connection. The router 6 hasthe NAT function, the router function, and the DHCP function.

The AP 8 functions as a relay point (in other words, an AP) for wirelesscommunication, and further has the router function and the DHCPfunction. Moreover, similar to the AP 4 of the case A, the AP 8 furtherhas a web server function.

The printer 10 is not yet connected to a LAN including the AP 8, and isabout to be connected to the LAN. In addition, the PC 20 is connected tothe AP 8 by a wireless connection. Moreover, configurations of theprinter 10 and the PC 20 are the same as those in the case A.

Although only a single AP 8 is connected to the router 6 in the systemof the case B in FIG. 1, a plurality of APs can be connected to therouter 6. In other words, while only a single AP exists in the system ofthe case A, the number of APs can be increased in the system of the caseB. Therefore, compared to the system of the case A, a greater number ofdevices (PCs, printers, and the like) can participate in the wirelessnetwork in the system of the case B.

In the system of the case B, both the router 6 and the AP 8 have theDHCP function. An administrator of the system (in other words, a user ofthe printer 10 and the PC 20) normally turn on the DHCP function of themuter 6 and turn off the DHCP function of the AP 8. In this case, therouter 6 assigns an IP address to the PC 20 (refer to a case B-1 in FIG.4). Therefore, in this case, the IP address of the router 6 is stored inthe memory 44 of the PC 20 as the “IP address of the DHCP server”included in the network information 50.

However, there may be a case where both the DHCP function of the router6 and the DHCP function of the AP 8 are turned on. In this case, therouter 6 may assign an IP address, to the PC 20 (refer to a case B-2-1in FIG. 4) and the AP 8 may also assign an IP address to the PC 20(refer to a case B-2-2 in FIG. 4). In the former case, the IP address ofthe router 6 is stored in the memory 44 of the PC 20 as the “IP addressof the DHCP server” included in the network information 50. In thelatter case, the IF address of the AP 8 is stored in the memory 44 ofthe PC 20 as the “IP address of the DHCP server” included in the networkinformation 50.

(First Assistance Process)

Next, contents of processes executed by the PC 20 according to, thesupport program 48 will be described. Moreover, the respective processesbelow may be executed in systems of both the case A and the case B. Whena user desires to have the printer 10 participate in the wirelessnetwork the user operates the operation unit 24 of the PC 20 andactivates the support program 48. In this case, according to the supportprogram 48, the controlling unit 40 of the PC 20 first executes thefirst assistance process shown in FIG. 2.

In the first assistance process, in S10, the first determination unit 62acquires the DHCP information (in other words, “Enabled” or “Disabled”)from the network information 50 in the memory 44. In the presentembodiment, in S10, the first determination unit 62 (refer to FIG. 1)utilizes a specific API (Application Programming Interface) prepared inan OS program. In other words, by activating the specific API, the firstdetermination unit 62 causes the specific API to acquire the networkinformation 50 in the memory 44, and then acquires the DHCP informationfrom the network information 50 acquired by the specific API.

Alternatively, in a modification thereof, in S10, the firstdetermination unit 62 may acquire the network information 50 in thememory 44 by executing an IPConfig command instead of utilizing thespecific API. In other words, generally speaking, the networkinformation 50 may be information equivalent to information acquiredusing the IPConfig command.

Next, in S12, the first determination unit 62 determines whether or notthe DHCP information acquired in S10 indicates “Enabled”. In otherwords, in S12, the first determination unit 62 determines whether or notthe current IP address of the PC 20 is the IP address assigned by theDHCP server (e.g., the AP 4 in the case A).

In a case where a determination is made that the DHCP informationindicates “Disabled”, in other words, in a case where a determination ismade that the current IP address of the PC 20 is not the IP addressassigned by the DHCP server (in a case of NO in S12), in S18, thedisplay controlling unit 70 (refer to FIG. 1) causes, to be displayed onthe display unit 22, a message indicating that wireless settinginformation cannot be displayed. Upon conclusion of S18, the firstassistance process ends.

On the other hand, in a case where a determination is made that the DHCPinformation indicates “Enabled”, in other words, in a case where adetermination is made that the current IP address of the PC 20 is the IPaddress assigned by the DHCP server (in a case of YES in S12), in S14,the extracting unit 60 (refer to FIG. 1) extracts the “IP address of theDHCP server” from the network information 50 acquired in S10. As aresult, the IP address of the DHCP server that had assigned the currentIP address of the PC 20 (e.g., the AP 4 in the case A) is extracted.

Next, in S16, the display controlling unit 70 activates the browserprogram 46 by utilizing the “IP address of the DHCP server” extracted inS14. In other words, the display controlling unit 70 instructs thebrowser program 46 to send a request packet for requesting a web pagewith the “IP address of the DHCP server” extracted in S14 asdestination. The respective processes carried out until issuing, theabove instruction to the browser program 46 are realized by the supportprogram 48.

Processes after the above instruction is issued to the browser program46 in S16 are executed by the display controlling unit 70 that isrealized by the browser program 46. In other words, the displaycontrolling unit 70 sends a request packet (in other words, a signal forrequesting wireless setting information including an SSID of an AP to beset to the printer 10) for requesting a web page (e.g., a top page) withthe “IP address of the DHCP server” extracted in S14 as destination.

(Case A)

For example, in the system of the case A, as shown in the case A in FIG.4, the IP address is assigned to the PC 20 by the DHCP server configuredintegrally with the AP 4. Therefore, the “IP address of the DHCP server”extracted in S14 is the IP address of the AP 4. Therefore, when therequest packet is sent from the PC 20 in S16 in FIG. 2, the AP 4receives the request packet and activates the web server function. As aresult, the web server function of the AP 4 sends to the PC 20 datarepresenting a web page including the wireless setting informationcurrently being used in the AP 4 (e.g., the SSID of the AP 4, and theauthentication method, the encryption method, and the encryption keycurrently being used in the AP 4). The display controlling unit 70 ofthe PC 20 causes the web page represented by the data acquired from theAP 4 to be displayed on the display unit 22. As a result, as shown inS16 in FIG. 2, the SSID of the AP 4 (abcdefgh), the authenticationmethod (WPA-PSK), the encryption method (TKIP), and the encryption key(12345678) are displayed on the display unit 22. Therefore, the user isable to learn the wireless setting information currently being used inthe AP 4.

(Case B-2-2)

In addition, e.g., in the system of the case B, as shown in the caseB-2-2 in FIG. 4, the IP address is assigned to the PC 20 by a DHCPserver configured integrally with the AP 8. In this case, the “IPaddress of the DHCP server” extracted in S14 is the IP address of the AP8. Therefore, when the request packet is sent from the PC 20 in S16 inFIG. 2, the AP 8 receives the request packet and activates the webserver function. Subsequent processes are the same as those in the caseA. Therefore, the user is able to learn the wireless setting informationcurrently being used in the AP 8. Upon conclusion of S16, the firstassistance process ends.

(Wireless Setting of Printer 10)

When the wireless setting information currently being used in the AP 4(or AP 8) is displayed on the display unit 22 of the PC 20, the useroperates the operation unit (not shown) of the printer 10 so as toperform the wireless setting on the printer 10. Specifically, when apredetermined operation is executed on the operation unit of the printer10, the printer 10 causes a message prompting a selection of one mode ofthe automatic wireless setting mode and the manual wireless setting modeto be displayed on the display unit of the printer 10. The user canoperate the operation unit of the printer 10 to select the manualwireless setting mode.

When the manual wireless setting mode is selected, as described above,the printer 10 searches for the APs existing around the printer 10, andcauses the list including the SSIDs of the APs that have been found tobe displayed on the display unit of the printer 10. The user is aware ofthe SSID (abcdefgh) displayed on the display unit 22 of the PC 20 in S16in FIG. 2. Therefore, assuming that a plurality of SSIDs (e.g., the SSIDof the AP existing in the home of the user and the SSID of the APexisting in the other home) is displayed on the display unit of theprinter 10, the user is able to select an SSID of an AP to be set to theprinter 10, in other words, the SSID displayed in S16 in FIG. 2 (e.g.,the SSID of the AP existing in the home of the user) from the pluralityof SSIDs.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, by referring to the web pagedisplayed in S16 in FIG. 2, the user is able to learn the authenticationmethod (WPA-PSK), the encryption method (TKIP), and the encryption key(12345678). Therefore, the user is able to select a single combinationdisplayed on the display unit of the printer 10 in S16 in FIG. 2 among aplurality of combinations of authentication methods and encryptionmethods. Furthermore, if needed (if a combination of an authenticationmethod and an encryption method that requires an encryption key isselected), the user inputs the encryption key in the web page displayedin S16 of FIG. 2 into the printer 10. Accordingly, the wireless settingis appropriately performed on the printer 10.

By executing the first assistance process, the PC 20 can provide theuser with the wireless setting information to be set to the printer 10in the case A or in the case B-2-2. A user having limited knowledge ofwireless communication can easily set the wireless setting informationdisplayed by the PC 20 to the printer 10. As a result, the user can havethe printer 10 participate in the wireless network in an appropriatemanner.

(Case B-1, Case B-2-1)

In the case B-1 or the case B-2-1 shown in FIG. 4, the IP address isassigned to the PC 20 by the DHCP server (in other words, the router 6)configured separately with the AP 8. Therefore, the “IP address of theDHCP server” extracted in S14 in FIG. 2 is not the IP address of the AP8 but the IP address of the router 6. Consequently, with the case B-1 orthe case B-2-1, in S16 in FIG. 2, the display controlling unit 70 sendsthe request packet with the IP address of the router 6 as destinationand, as a result, the data representing the web page including thewireless setting information currently being used in the AP 8 cannot beacquired. Therefore, in the case B-1 or the case B-2-1, usefulinformation (in other words, the wireless setting information to be setto the printer 10) is not displayed in S16 in FIG. 2. In considerationof such cases, the PC 20 according to the present embodiment furtheradopts the following configuration.

(Second Assistance Process)

After S16 in FIG. 2 is executed, the display controlling unit 70 causesa message to be displayed on the display unit 22 which prompts the userto select whether or not a further assistance process is to be executed.Therefore, when the useful information is not displayed (e.g., in thecase B-1 or the case B-2-1), the user can select the further assistanceprocess to be executed. In this case, the controlling unit 40 furtherexecutes the second assistance process shown in FIG. 3. S20 to S24 inFIG. 3 are the same as S10 to S14 in FIG. 2. In addition, S36 that isexecuted in a case of NO in S22 is the same as S18 in FIG. 2.

(Survey of Communication Path)

In S26, the display controlling unit 70 surveys a communication path byutilizing the “IP address of the DHCP server” acquired in S24.Specifically, the display controlling unit 70 sends an ICMP (InternetControl Message Protocol) packet by utilizing a specific API forperforming a path survey in which the “IP address of the DHCP server”acquired in S24 has been designated as destination. The specific API isprovided by the OS program. Alternatively, in a modification thereof, inS26, the display controlling unit 70 may send the ICMP packet byexecuting a path survey command (e.g., a command equivalent to atraceroute command or a tracert command) instead of utilizing thespecific API.

Moreover, as well known, the ICMP packet includes an IP header in whicha TTL (Time To Live) can be set. Whenever an ICMP packet passes a singlerouter, “1” is subtracted from the When the ICMP packet sent from the PC20 reaches the target destination (in the present embodiment, the “IPaddress of the DHCP server” acquired in S24) before the TTL becomes “0”,the target destination sends a reply packet to the PC 20. On the otherhand, when the TTL becomes “0” before the ICMP packet sent from the PC20 reaches the target destination, a router that had subtracted the TTLto “0” sends an error packet to the PC 20. In other words, TTL is avalue related to, the number of hops that is the number of routersthrough which an ICMP packet is able to pass.

In the present embodiment, when executing a first path survey, thedisplay controlling unit 70 sets the TTL inside the ICMP packet to “1”.For example, in the case B-1 or the case B-2-1 (refer to FIG. 4), the“IP address of the DHCP server” acquired in S24 is not the IP address ofthe AP 8 but the IP address of the router 6. Therefore, when the displaycontrolling unit 70 sends a first ICMP packet by setting the “IP addressof the DHCP server” acquired in S24 as destination and by setting theTTL to “1”, the first ICMP packet initially: arrives at the AP 8. Sincethe AP 8 is equipped with the router function, “1” is subtracted fromthe TTL (in other words, “1”). As a result, the TTL becomes “0” and theAP 8 sends the error packet to the PC 20.

Upon acquiring the error packet, the display controlling unit 70increases the TTL by just “1” and executes a second path survey. Inother words, the display controlling unit 70 sends a second ICMP packetby setting the “IP address of the DHCP server” acquired in S24 asdestination and by setting the TTL to “2”. In the case B-1 or the caseB-2-1 (refer to FIG. 4), the AP 8 subtracts “1” from the TTL (in otherwords, “2”) included in the second ICMP packet. Furthermore, the AP 8sends the second ICMP packet to the router 6. As a result, the secondICMP packet reaches the router 6. Therefore, the router 6 sends a replypacket to the PC 20 and the display controlling unit 70 of the PC 20acquires the reply packet. Once the reply packet is acquired, thecommunication path survey (the process of S26) ends. Moreover, the replypacket that is sent from the router 6 to the PC 20 includes the IPaddress of the router 6 (in other words, the “IP address of the DHCPserver” acquired in S24) as an IP address corresponding to the number ofhops=2 (in other words, an IP address of a second device on thecommunication path as viewed from the PC 20) and the IP address of theAP 8 as an IP address corresponding to the number of hops=1 (in otherwords, an IP address of a first device on the communication path asviewed from the PC 20).

Moreover, when the display controlling unit 70 is unable to acquire thereply packet even after sending the second and subsequent ICMP packets(in other words, when the display controlling unit 70 receives the errorpacket), the display controlling unit 70 sends a third and subsequentICMP packets by increasing the TTL by “1” until the reply packet isacquired.

Moreover, as described above, in the case A or the case B-2-2, theuseful information is displayed in S16 in the first assistance processshown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the user normally does not select executionof the second assistance process after the first assistance process isconclude. However, even in the case A or the case B-2-2, the user mayselect execution of the second assistance process after the firstassistance process is conclude. In this case, the following operationsare executed in S26 of the second assistance process shown in FIG. 3.

Specifically, in the case A (or the case B-2-2), the “IP address of theDHCP server” acquired in S24 is the IP address of the AP 4 (or the AP8). Therefore, when the display controlling unit 70 sends the first ICMPpacket, the first ICMP packet reaches the AP 4 (or the AP 8) withouttraveling through a router. Consequently, the AP 4 (or AP 8) sends thereply packet to the PC 20, and the display controlling unit 70 of the PC20 acquires the reply packet and ends the survey of the communicationpath (the process of S26). Moreover, the reply packet that is sent fromthe AP 4 (or the AP 8) to the PC 20 includes the IP address of the AP 4(or the AP 8) (in other words, the “IP address of the DHCP server”acquired in S24) as the IP address corresponding to the number ofhops=1.

After conclusion of S26, the second assistance process proceeds to S28.In S28, the second determination unit 72 (refer to FIG. 1) utilizes thereply packet acquired in S26 to determine whether or not the APconfigured separately with the DHCP server that had assigned the IPaddress to the PC 20 may exist on the communication path between the PC20 and the DHCP server. Specifically, when the reply packet acquired inS26 includes only the IP address corresponding to the number of hops=1,the second determination unit 72 determines that the AP configuredseparately with the DHCP server does not exist on the communication path(the second determination unit 72 makes a determination of YES in S28).On the other hand, when the reply packet acquired in S26 includes notonly an IP address corresponding to the number of hops=1 but also an IPaddress corresponding to the number of hops=2, the second determinationunit 72 determines that an AP configured separately with the DHCP servermay exist on the communication path (the second determination unit 72makes a determination of NO in S28).

(Case A, Case B-2-2)

For example, in, the case A or the case B-2-2 (refer to FIG. 4), thereply packet acquired in S26 includes only an IP address correspondingto the number of hops=1 cm other words, the IP address of the AP 4 (orAP 8)). Therefore, in the case A or the case B-2-2, the seconddetermination unit 72 determines that an AP configured separately withthe DHCP server does not exist on the communication path between the PC20 and the DHCP server (in other words, makes the determination of YESin S28), and proceeds to S30. S30 is the same as S16 in FIG. 2. In otherwords, in the case A, the wireless setting information currently beingused in the AP 4 is displayed on the display unit 22, and in the caseB-2-2, the wireless setting information currently being used in the AP 8is displayed on the display unit 22. Upon conclusion of S30, the secondassistance process ends.

(Case B-1, Case B-2-1)

On the other hand, e.g., in the case B-1 or the case B-2-1 (refer toFIG. 4), the reply packet acquired in S26 includes the IP addresscorresponding to the number of hops=1 (in other words, the IP address ofAP 8) and the IP address corresponding to the number of hops=2 (in otherwords, the IP address of router 6). Therefore, in the case B-1 or thecase B-2-1, the second determination unit 72 determines that the APconfigured separately with the DHCP server may exist on thecommunication path between the PC 20 and the DHCP server (in otherwords, makes the determination of NO in S28), and proceeds to S32.

In S32, the display controlling unit 70 acquires the IP address of theAP 8 by acquiring the IP address corresponding to the number of hops=1from the reply packet acquired in S26. Next, in S34, the displaycontrolling unit 70 activates the browser program 46 by utilizing the IPaddress acquired in S32. In other words, the display controlling unit 70instructs the browser program 46 to send the request packet forrequesting the web page with the IP address of the AP 8 acquired in S32as destination. Moreover, similar to the case of the first assistanceprocess, processes after the above instruction is issued to the browserprogram 46 in S36 are executed by the display controlling unit 70 thatis realized by the browser program 46.

As described above, in the case B-1 or the case B-2-1 (refer to FIG. 4),the IP address acquired in S32 is the IP address of the AP 8. Therefore,when the request packet is sent from the PC 20 in S34, the AP 8 sendsdata representing the web page including the wireless settinginformation currently being used in the AP 8 to the PC 20. The displaycontrolling unit 70 causes the web page represented by the data acquiredfrom the AP 8 to be displayed on the display unit 22. As a result, theuser can learn the wireless setting information currently being used inthe AP 8. The wireless setting of the printer 10 to be subsequentlyexecuted is the same as in the case of the first assistance process.

Advantages of Present Embodiment

According to the present embodiment, e.g., in the case A, the PC 20acquires the wireless setting information from the AP 4 by utilizing theIP address of the DHCP server configured integrally with the AP 4 (S16in FIG. 2, S30 in FIG. 3). In addition, in the case B-2-2, the PC 20acquires the wireless setting information from the AP 8 by utilizing theIP address of the DHCP server configured integrally with the AP 8 (S16in FIG. 2, S30 in FIG. 3). Furthermore, in the case B-1 or the caseB-2-1, the PC 20 acquires the IP address of the AP 8 executing thesurvey of the communication path by utilizing the IP address of the DHCPserver configured separately with the AP 8 (S32 in FIG. 3), and acquireswireless setting information from the AP 8 by utilizing the IP addressof the AP 8 (S34 in FIG. 3). Therefore, according to the presentembodiment, in any of the cases, the PC 20 is capable of acquiringwireless setting information including the SSID of the AP 4 (or the AP8) to be set to the printer 10 by utilizing the IP address of the DHCPserver that had assigned the IP address to the PC 20, and causing thewireless setting information to be displayed on the display unit 22.Consequently, the user can easily set appropriate wireless settinginformation (e.g., the wireless setting information currently being usedin the AP existing in the home of the user) to the printer 10.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the survey ofthe communication path is executed in S26 of the second assistanceprocess shown in FIG. 3, the PC 20 is able to appropriately determinewhether or not the AP 8 having the router function may exist between thePC 20 itself and the DHCP server that had assigned the IP address to thePC 20 (S28 in FIG. 3). Moreover, the PC 20 is capable of appropriatelyacquiring the IP address of the AP 8 configured separately with the DHCPserver based on the result of the communication path survey (in otherwords, the reply packet) (S32 in FIG. 3).

The PC 20 and the printer 10 are, respectively, examples of an“assistance device” and a “wireless device”. The DHCP informationincluded in the network information 50 is an example of “specificinformation”. In addition, the request packet sent in S16 in FIG. 2 (orS30 in FIG. 3) and the request packet sent in S34 in FIG. 3 are,respectively, examples of a “first signal” and a “second signal”. TheICMP packet sent in S26 in FIG. 3 and the reply packet in response tothe ICMP packet are, respectively, examples of a “specific signal” and a“reply signal”.

(First modification) While the PC 20 is adopted as an example of the“assistance device” in the above embodiment, a server, a printer, ascanner, a facsimile, a mobile phone, a PDA, or the like may be adoptedinstead.

(Second modification) While the printer 10 is adopted as an example ofthe “wireless device” in the above embodiment, a PC, a server, ascanner, a facsimile, a mobile phone, a PDA, or the like may be adoptedinstead.

(Third modification) While the DHCP server is adopted as an example ofan “assignment server” in the above embodiment, a BOOTP (BootstrapProtocol) server may be adopted instead.

(Fourth modification) While the AP 4 has a router function in the systemof the case A shown in FIG. 1 in the above embodiment, alternatively,the AP 4 need not be equipped with the router function. Generallyspeaking, an “access point” may be an access point having the routerfunction (sometimes referred to as a “wireless router”) or may be an:access point not having the router function (sometimes referred to as a“wireless bridge”).

(Fifth modification) While the SSID is adopted as an example of an“identifier of an access point” in the above embodiment; an ESSID(Extended Service Set Identifier) may be adopted instead.

(Sixth modification) The AP 4 (or the AP 8) and the PC 20 may beconnected by a wired connection. In other words, generally speaking, the“assistance device” and the “access point” may be connected to eachother so as to be mutually capable of communicating.

(Seventh modification) In the above embodiment, a configuration isadopted in which upon conclusion of S16 of the first assistance processshown in FIG. 2, an inquiry is made to the user regarding whether or notthe second assistance process shown in FIG. 3 is to be executed.Alternatively, an inquiry may be made to the user before executing thefirst assistance process regarding which of the first assistance processand the second assistance process is to be executed. According to thisconfiguration, e.g., the user who is aware that the system of the case Ahas been constructed can select the first assistance process, and theuser who is aware that the system of the case B has been constructed canselect the second assistance process.

(Eighth modification) The support program 48 need not be a program forrealizing both the first and second assistance processes of FIGS. 2 and3, and may be a program for realizing only the first assistance processor a program for realizing only the second assistance process. In otherwords, generally speaking, the “assistance device” need only be capableof executing at least either the first assistance process or the secondassistance process. Both of the assistance processes are capable ofrealizing a configuration to “obtain from the access point, by utilizingthe extracted IP address of the assignment server, information includingthe identifier of the access point, so as to display the informationincluding the identifier of the access point on a display unit”.

(Ninth modification) In the above embodiment, in S16 in FIG. 2, S30 inFIG. 3, and S34 in FIG. 3, when the request packet is sent from the PC20, the AP 4 (or the AP 8) sends the data representing the web pageincluding all of the SSID, the authentication method, the encryptionmethod, and the encryption key. However, the AP 4 (or AP 8) may senddata representing a web page at least including the SSID and notincluding all of or a part of other information (the authenticationmethod, the encryption method, and the encryption key). In other words,whether or not to send all of or a part of the authentication method,the encryption method, and the encryption key in addition to the SSIDmay be dependent on an AP type. In a configuration of the presentmodification, similarly, the PC 20 can acquire at least the SSID andcause the SSID to be displayed on the display unit 22. Generallyspeaking, “information including the identifier of the access point”includes at least the identifier of the access point and, may or may notinclude other information (an authentication method, an encryptionmethod, and an encryption key).

(Tenth modification) In the above embodiment, in the case of NO in S28in FIG. 3 (in other words, in the case of a value of the number of hopsbeing greater than 1), the display controlling unit 70 activates the webbrowser by utilizing the IP address of the AP 8. Alternatively, in thecase of NO in S28 in FIG. 3, the display controlling unit 70 may end thesecond assistance process without activating the web browser. In boththe above embodiment and the present modification, in the case of NO inS28 in FIG. 3, the display controlling unit 70 does not send the requestpacket with the “IP address of the DHCP server” included in the networkinformation 50 as the destination. In other words, generally speaking,in a second case where a determination is made that the access pointhaving the router function may exist on the communication path, thedisplay controlling unit need not send a signal with the extracted IPaddress of the assignment server as destination. According to thisconfiguration, in the case of not being able to acquire the identifierof the access point, transmission of the signal with the extracted IPaddress of the assignment server as destination can be inhibited. Inother words, wasteful transmission of signals can be reduced and anincrease in communication load of the network can be suppressed.

(Eleventh modification) Moreover, the functions of the respective units60, 62, 70, and 72 in the above embodiment may be realized by softwareas in the above embodiment. However, at least a part of units 60, 62,70, and 72 may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assistance device for providing a user with anidentifier of an access point which is to be set in a wireless device,the assistance device comprising: a controller configured to execute aprocess, comprising: a first determining that determines, by utilizingspecific information included in network information related to anetwork and stored in the assistance device, whether an IP address ofthe assistance device is an IP address that was assigned by an IPaddress assignment server; extracting, from the network informationstored in the assistance device, an IP address of the IP addressassignment server that assigned the IP address to the assistance devicewhen the first determining determines that the IP address of theassistance device is the IP address that was assigned by the IP addressassignment server; and obtaining from the access point, by utilizing theextracted IP address of the IP address assignment server, informationcomprising the identifier of the access point, so as to display theinformation comprising the identifier of the access point on a displayunit, wherein obtaining the information comprising the identifiercomprises: sending a first signal, with the extracted IP address of theIP address assignment server as a destination, to the access point whichis configured integrally with the IP address assignment server, so as toobtain the information comprising the identifier of the access pointfrom the access point, and a second determining that determines, byutilizing the extracted IP address of the IP address assignment server,whether the access point having a router function which is configuredseparately with the IP address assignment server may exist on acommunication path between the assistance device and the IP addressassignment server, and wherein, in a first case where a determination ismade in the second determining that the access point having the routerfunction may not exist on the communication path, the controllerexecutes the sending of the first signal, with the extracted IP addressof the IP address assignment server as the destination, so as to obtainthe information including the identifier of the access point from theaccess point which is configured integrally with the IP addressassignment server.
 2. The assistance device as in claim 1, wherein, in asecond case where a determination is made in the second determining thatthe access point having the router function may exist on thecommunication path, the obtaining the information comprising theidentifier comprises: obtaining an IP address of the access point havingthe router function which may exist on the communication path, andsending a second signal, with the obtained IP address of the accesspoint as the destination, so as to obtain the information including theidentifier of the access point from the access point which is configuredseparately with the IP address assignment server.
 3. The assistancedevice as in claim 2, wherein obtaining the information comprising theidentifier comprises sending a specific signal, with the extracted IPaddress of the IP address assignment server as the destination, so as toobtain a reply signal from the IP address assignment server, the seconddetermining is executed by determining whether the obtained reply signalincludes information indicating that the access point having the routerfunction may exist on the communication path, and in the second case,the controller obtains the IP address of the access point having therouter function included in the reply signal.
 4. The assistance deviceas in claim 1, wherein the identifier of the access point comprises aservice set identifier (SSID) of a network to which the assistancedevice is connected.
 5. The assistance device as in claim 1, wherein:the information comprising the identifier of the access point furthercomprises authentication information, the authentication informationcomprising a password that is required to authenticate a wirelessconnection with the access point; and displaying the informationcomprising the identifier of the access point on the display unitcomprises displaying the authentication information, together with theidentifier of the access point, on the display unit.
 6. A computerreadable device storing a computer program including computer readableinstructions executed by a computer of an assistance device, theassistance device being configured to provide a user with an identifierof an access point which is to be set in a wireless device, whereinexecuting the computer readable instructions causes the computer to:determine, by utilizing specific information included in networkinformation related to a network and stored in the assistance device,whether an IP address of the assistance device is an IP address that wasassigned by an IP address assignment server; extract, from the networkinformation stored in the assistance device, an IP address of the IPaddress assignment server which had assigned the IP address to theassistance device when it is determined that that the IP address of theassistance device is the IP address that was assigned by the IP addressassignment server; and obtain from the access point, by utilizing theextracted IP address of the IP address assignment server, informationincluding the identifier of the access point, so as to display theinformation including the identifier of the access point on a displayunit, wherein obtaining the information comprising the identifiercomprises: sending a first signal, with the extracted IP address of theIP address assignment server as a destination, to the access point whichis configured integrally with the IP address assignment server, so as toobtain the information comprising the identifier of the access pointfrom the access point, and determining, by utilizing the extracted IPaddress of the IP address assignment server, whether the access pointhaving a router function which is configured separately with the IPaddress assignment server may exist on a communication path between theassistance device and the IP address assignment server, and wherein, ina first case where a determination is made that the access point havingthe router function may not exist on the communication path, thecomputer of the assistance device executes the sending of the firstsignal, with the extracted IP address of the IP address assignmentserver as the destination, so as to obtain the information including theidentifier of the access point from the access point which is configuredintegrally with the IP address assignment server.
 7. The computerreadable device as in claim 6, wherein the identifier of the accesspoint comprises a service set identifier (SSID) of a network to whichthe assistance device is connected.
 8. The computer readable device asin claim 6, wherein: the information comprising the identifier of theaccess point further comprises authentication information, theauthentication information comprising a password that is required toauthenticate a wireless connection with the access point; and executingthe computer readable instructions to cause the computer to display theinformation comprising the identifier of the access point on the displayunit comprises displaying the authentication information, together withthe identifier of the access point, on the display unit.
 9. A methodexecuted in an assistance device for providing a user with an identifierof an access point which is to be set in a wireless device, the methodcomprising: determine, by utilizing specific information included innetwork information related to a network and stored in the assistancedevice, whether an IP address of the assistance device is an IP addressthat was assigned by an IP address assignment server; extracting, fromthe network information stored in the assistance device, an IP addressof the IP address assignment server which had assigned the IP address tothe assistance device when it is determined that that the IP address ofthe assistance device is the IP address that was assigned by the IPaddress assignment server; and obtaining from the access point, byutilizing the extracted IP address of the IP address assignment server,information including the identifier of the access point, so as todisplay the information including the identifier of the access point ona display unit, wherein obtaining the information comprising theidentifier comprises: sending a first signal, with the extracted IPaddress of the IP address assignment server as a destination, to theaccess point which is configured integrally with the IP addressassignment server, so as to obtain the information comprising theidentifier of the access point from the access point, and determining,by utilizing the extracted IP address of the IP address assignmentserver, whether the access point having a router function which isconfigured separately with the IP address assignment server may exist ona communication path between the assistance device and the IP addressassignment server, and wherein, in a first case where a determination ismade that the access point having the router function may not exist onthe communication path, the assistance device executes the sending ofthe first signal, with the extracted IP address of the IP addressassignment server as the destination, so as to obtain the informationincluding the identifier of the access point from the access point whichis configured integrally with the IP address assignment server.
 10. Themethod as in claim 9, wherein the identifier of the access pointcomprises a service set identifier (SSID) of a network to which theassistance device is connected.
 11. The method as in claim 9, wherein:the information comprising the identifier of the access point furthercomprises authentication information, the authentication informationcomprising a password that is required to authenticate a wirelessconnection with the access point; and displaying the informationcomprising the identifier of the access point on the display unitcomprises displaying the authentication information, together with theidentifier of the access point, on the display unit.